Divine Healing | Spiritual HealingFaith Healing Today? Yes!

Does God heal today? Can we expect to see miraculous healings in our modern, high-tech world? Yes! I have personally experienced divine healing. For the first six years of our marriage, my wife Mickey suffered from a medically diagnosed infertility condition. We longed for children. There were times when Mickey would come home heartbroken from baby showers where she had been the only woman present who was not a mother of children.

Firmly believing that Jesus heals today, we had prayed diligently, and we often received prayer from others for the healing of this infertility. Then one day a lady in our church said that the Lord had spoken to her in the middle of the night to tell this to my wife: “Your barren days are over!” Mickey put “feet to her faith” by buying a roomful of nursery furniture, and we would go into that room often and pray for the baby that we were trusting the Lord to grant us one day to sleep in that crib.

Well, just a little over a year after the Lord spoke to Mickey “Your barren days are over!” she delivered our firstborn son, Brian (we still call him our "miracle baby"). The Lord’s healing was so complete that in subsequent years Mickey bore us three more children. Jehovah-Rapha — The Lord Our Healer!

My desire in this Bible study is to show from the bible's healing Scriptures that God is both able and willing to heal the sick, the diseased, the infirm. My family has personally experienced this blessing of divine healing. So have millions of others. Multitudes of books have been written on what is variously called faith healing, spiritual healing, divine healing, healing prayer, healing ministry (and other similar expressions). And genuine healing testimonies abound of God’s supernatural power to make sick and infirm bodies well.

But the foundation for this truth lies not so much in men’s experience — as wonderful as that may be — but in the Scriptures, the Word of God. So let’s turn now to the Bible to see its revelation of this great truth of spiritual healing. (Explanatory note: the terms "spiritual healing," "divine healing," and "faith healing" are essentially used interchangeably in this bible study.)

• Sick believers don't need to remain sick!

James 5:14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him...

James was writing to Christian believers (2:1). He asked them if any of them were sick. It is a “given” of life in our fallen condition that our bodies on occasion tend to sickness, and eventually they die. However, as the verse directly below points out, it is also a “given” for the believer that God is Jehovah-Rapha, “the Lord who heals you.”

Exodus 15:26 [God] said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.”

God identified Himself to Israel in a variety of names and ways. Here He revealed Himself to His people as “Jehovah-Rapha” — “the Lord who heals you.”

Healing is not just something that God “does.” No, more than that, healing is part of God’s very nature — “I AM the Lord who heals you.” God was, is, and will continue to be a Healer. Remember always that you serve a healing God who has declared that His intent towards you is “not [to] bring on you any diseases ... [but to be] the Lord who heals you.”

• God is FOR us, not against us, in the matter of healing.

God’s heart towards His people is health and healing. See, for example, the following Scriptures on healing:

Exodus 23:25-26 Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Deuteronomy 7:11-12, 15 Therefore, take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today. If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers.... [15] The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.

ALL our diseases! None are too hard for Him. God heals them all. No illnesses are excluded from this great “benefit.” Whatever disease you or a loved one may have, it falls under God’s promise to “heal all your diseases.”

• Jesus died for both our sins and our sicknesses.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

It was Jesus’ willing offering of Himself on the Cross that bore our sins. But the very same tormented body of Jesus, in His scourging and crucifixion, purchased for us the blessing of divine healing — “by His wounds you have been healed.”

And notice the differences in the verb tenses used by Isaiah and Peter. Isaiah, prophetically seeing this seven centuries before Christ, said, “By His wounds we are healed.” The apostle Peter, looking back to Christ’s historical death and resurrection, declared, “By His wounds you have been healed.” Jesus cried out from the Cross, “It is finished!” Sin has been overcome. Sickness has been overcome. The Cross of Jesus Christ has conquered both sin and sickness. Dr. Roger Sapp, whose CDs and DVDs on healing I have greatly enjoyed, strongly emphasizes that healing is ours because of what Jesus accomplished at the Cross. Jesus Christ the Savior is just as surely Jesus Christ the Healer.

The following are some of the numerous instances of divine, spiritual healing in the Bible. Let’s see what insights we can learn from them.

• God responds to prayer for healing.

Genesis 20:17-18 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

The ongoing principle seen here and elsewhere in the Bible, is the power of a believer’s prayer. God honors and answers prayers for healing. Abraham, Moses, and David believed in God’s healing power and His willingness to heal, and they prayed for it. I mentioned above how the Lord healed my wife's infertility. I must add that she and I and a number of others had been steadfastly praying for healing of that infertility. And God was faithful to answer! Jesus taught on this same power of a believer’s faith-filled prayer:

Matthew 21:22 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

• And it's OK with God if our prayers for healing are deeply emotional!

2 Kings 20:1-5 (King James Version) In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

Serious illnesses can be emotionally devastating. King Hezekiah was “sick unto death.” To make matters worse, the prophet Isaiah brought him the Lord’s message that this illness would be fatal. Hezekiah’s reaction is very illuminating for us.

The Bible reveals to us that, having learned that his illness was terminal, Hezekiah “wept bitterly” (NIV) as he “prayed unto the Lord.” Note that God regarded both Hezekiah’s prayer and his emotions — “I have heard thy prayer; I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee.” It’s OK with God if we are quite emotional in approaching Him with our healing needs.

Now let’s look at some examples of Jesus healing the sick, the infirm, the diseased, those in pain, etc.

Matthew 4:23-24 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and HEALING EVERY disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. (caps mine)

Christians serve a healing Savior, Jesus Christ. His heart, as here, is for “the people.” The Gospel records abound with illustrations of the healing miracles of Jesus among the masses, the men and women on the street. He preached and taught, yes. But He also “healed every disease and sickness among the people.”

“Every disease and sickness” — Christ’s healing power is without limit. His healing touch is available to everyone. There is no illness beyond His ability to cure. He healed them all, including:

• those “ill with various diseases”

• those who were “suffering severe pain”

• the “demon-possessed”

• those “having seizures”

• those who were “paralyzed”

So don’t hesitate to bring any healing need to Jesus, because in His ministry of healing, He demonstrated His ability and His willingness to heal “every disease and sickness among the people.”

• Jesus' healing power was prophesied in the Old Testament.

Matthew 8:16-17 (King James Version) When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

God had this in mind all along. The prophet Isaiah spoke of it seven centuries before the New Testament era:

• Jesus would take up our infirmities.

• Jesus would bear our diseases.

• Jesus would “heal all that were sick” to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah.

• Be encouraged to reach out to Jesus for your healing.

Matthew 14:35-36 (KJV) And when the men of that place had knowledge of [Jesus], they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.Verse 36 (NIV) “...all who touched him were healed.”

Our part is to reach out and touch Jesus for healing. Bring your sick ones to Jesus. Encourage them by faith to reach out and touch Him, because then, as now, all who touched Him were healed.

• Don't pray the leper's prayer; pray Jesus' answer!

Mark 1:40-41 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

Do not establish your healing doctrine on the leper’s cry, “If you are willing.” No, but rather build your faith for healing on Jesus’ confidence-building reply, “I AM willing!” Fix this thought firmly in your soul — Jesus IS WILLING to heal those who come to Him in faith.

• BELIEVE the Lord for divine healing. Have FAITH in His power and willingness to heal you.

Matthew 9:20-22, 27-30a (KJV) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.... [27] And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened.

A principle of great importance is seen in these verses — that is, “thy faith hath made thee whole ... according to your faith be it unto you.” Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” But conversely, we are told, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22). God expects us, in asking for healing as well as in other prayers, to believe Him, to believe His word, to “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). Divine healing is quite appropriately called "faith healing"!

I remember the late Kenneth Hagin saying that he had seen many healings in a noncharismatic, fundamental church early in his ministry. He said he simply preached "faith and healing" and people got healed! He understood that key: faith is an indispensible ingredient in divine healing.

• God may ask us to demonstrate our faith for spiritual healing.

Matthew 12:10, 13 And a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” ... [13] Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.

There may be times when the Lord will ask you to show your faith, to give observable evidence of your faith, as in the case of the man whom He told to stretch out his withered hand. I wrote earlier how my wife Mickey, sincerely believing God for the healing of her infertility, felt faith to buy a roomful of nursery furniture. Not many months later, after six years of infertility, she found herself pregnant with the first of our four children. I can only conclude that God saw the sincerity of Mickey's faith (edit 2010: see Tribute to a Life Lived Well).

• Healing comes through faith in Jesus, not faith in faith.

Acts 3:16By faith in the name of JESUS, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Healing comes “by faith in” someone — JESUS! Over the years I have heard sincere Christians misdirect their faith. Some have fallen into the error of having “faith in faith.” No! Our faith is in a Person, Jesus, who heals. Others have properly searched the Scriptures concerning healing, but have unfortunately been content to use them merely as a “formula” for healing, rather than as a revelation of the Healer Himself. "Faith healing" is not primarily believing the doctrine of healing (true as that doctrine is), but believing in the Healer, the Person — that is, in Jesus Christ.

Peter understood the proper object of our faith — Jesus! He told his listeners how the lame man had been healed:

• Sometimes we may need to "walk" for a while in faith, then the healing comes.

Luke 17:12 (KJV) And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

This is a very reassuring verse. Notice that the lepers were not healed the moment they prayed. No, but rather they were healed“as they went” to show themselves to the priests in obedience to Jesus.

There may be times when we need to “walk” for a while in faith, and then the healing comes. Although many healings in the Bible were instantaneous, some were not immediate. Be willing to maintain steadfast faith as you pray for divine healing, and don’t be discouraged if your healing does not immediately occur.

• Don't pray, then doubt!

In his epistle James reveals a valuable principle for the person asking something of God — “When he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7). When you ask God for healing, don’t doubt! Don’t waver! Believe God. Believe the healing promises of His word. Reject doubt, choosing rather to say, “God is true ... His word is true ... so my doubts must go!”

• Now let us look now at HOW healing is ministered to people.

1. By prayer, as we have already seen.

2. By a spoken word.

John 4:49-51 (KJV) The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

Even at a distance from the nobleman’s home, Jesus spoke the word: “Thy son liveth.” And the man “believed the word that Jesus had spoken” and returned home to find his son alive. There is healing power in the spoken word of faith.

Acts 9:33-34 There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.

Again, we see the power of the spoken word of faith. Peter simply declared the truth: “Jesus Christ heals you.” And the miracle of healing followed immediately. Tell the sick, “Jesus Christ heals you.” Make no apologies for that statement. Don’t doubt it. Don’t try to water it down. As the old saying goes, truer words were never spoken!

Acts 14:8-10, KJV And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Once more we see the healing power of the spoken word of faith. The preaching of the word of God inspired an atmosphere of faith. Paul “perceived that [the lame man] had faith to be healed.”

How did the lame man come to this place of having faith to be healed? The answer is that he heard the word of God spoken by Paul. This is a vitally important principle for all churches and all Christians. Preach the word. Teach the word. God’s word will inspire faith in the hearers. And we will begin to see dramatic healings in response to the spoken word of faith — “Stand upright on thy feet!”

3. By the laying on of hands.

Acts 9:10-11, 17-18, KJV And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus.... [17] And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

First notice that it doesn’t require an apostle to heal the sick. It doesn't require someone with a special healing ministry to heal the sick. Verse 10 identifies Ananias simply as a “disciple.” Mark 16:17-18 records Jesus’ promise to all believers — “And these signs will accompany those who believe.... they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Led by Jesus in a vision, the faithful disciple Ananias found Saul and announced to him that Jesus had sent him to heal Saul’s blindness. It is important for those who are sick to understand that Jesus is able and willing to heal them.

Then Ananias laid his hands on him, and Saul’s eyes immediately received sight again.

Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.

The words of the Lord, as recorded in the Bible, are life-giving. Jesus said that His words “are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). One of the most inspiring CDs I have ever listened to was simply a collection of healing Scriptures read aloud by a pastor. I could feel the word of God building faith.

But the Proverb reveals another dramatic benefit of keeping the Lord’s words “within your heart”, and that benefit is health — “My words ...[are] health to a man’s whole body.” The secular world speaks of "alternative health". But the best source of alternative health — or any aspect of health! — is the sure promises of God in His word, the bible.

5. Through what have been called “prayer cloths.”

Acts 19:11-12 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

Many churches continue to pray this way for sick family members and friends who live at a distance. I endorse this practice wholeheartedly.

Generally, during the post-service altar ministry someone will hold a handkerchief over which believers will come and pray for healing for the person in need. Then the handkerchief is mailed to the sick person, along with some faith-building scriptures on healing (usually including Acts 19:11-12) and an explanation that believers in the church had prayed for them for their healing. Testimonies abound of people being physically healed in this way.

Many years ago in a church in Anchorage, I was touched to see a medical doctor holding a prayer cloth on behalf of a sick person of his acquaintance. As I joined with the others in prayer, I thought to myself, “Here is this Christian doctor, with all his scientific knowledge, humbly asking the Great Physician to do something better than medical science can do it.” My faith was encouraged.

Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

(King James Version) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

The margin of the New American Standard Bible says that a joyful heart “literally, ‘causes good healing.’ ”

Think of that — the state of our “heart” — referring here to the emotions, not the bodily organ — can substantially affect our good health or lack thereof. This has long been common knowledge in the medical field. Sometimes illnesses are diagnosed as “psychosomatic” in origin. Interestingly, the word psychosomatic comes from the same Greek words that the Bible uses for “soul” and “body.” So medical science agrees with the Bible that the state of our inner man or woman can substantially affect our physical health, for good or for bad.

The word of God says that a merry heart “literally causes good healing”! There is a direct, cause-and-effect result: merry heart —> good healing. Conversely, a broken or crushed spirit has a negative effect on our health (it “dries up the bones”).

One of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) is joy. Those who allow the presence of the Lord in their lives to bring a daily, inward joy will also reap the wonderful promise of their “merry heart doing good like a medicine.”

7. There is healing in “the Lord’s Supper,” the Communion.

1 Corinthians 11:29-30 For anyone who eats and drinks [the Lord’s supper, vs. 20] without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

“That is why many...are weak and sick.” Why? They take Communion “without recognizing the body of the Lord.” They forget 1 Peter 2:24 — “By his wounds you have been healed.” They participate in the communion service, perhaps needing a physical healing, and remain oblivious to the fact that Jesus’ body bore both our sins and our sicknesses.

I would encourage every reader to ponder these things the next time you take communion. Remember what Jesus’ broken body has done for you. Receive the benefits of that by faith. And expect divine healing to come to your body, even during the very communion service.

8. By calling the elders of the church to lay on hands, anoint with oil, and pray for you.

James 5:14-15 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.

An important doctrinal point on a related topic — it’s important for each church to have elders. Otherwise, there are no “elders of the church” for the sick to call for prayer and anointing with oil. Can you identify the elders of your church?

In my years as a Christian, I have been an elder in three local churches. I have always considered it a privilege to respond to calls from the sick. The process is simple and will generally be something like this:

1. The sick person, or someone on their behalf, calls an elder to come and pray.

2. That elder contacts another elder or two to accompany him.

3. Those elders anoint the sick person with oil and pray the “prayer of faith” (KJV).

4. That being done, God’s promise is: “The Lord will raise him up.”

9. In some instances, divine healing comes as demons are driven out. [NOTE: The Bible does not indicate that demons can inhabit Christians.]

Matthew 17:15, 18 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.” ... [18] Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

It is important to remind ourselves that this healing was before the Cross of Christ, so the boy was not a born-again person, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. I find no Bible evidence that a born-again Christian can be possessed by a demon.

Here the boy was clearly possessed and had a demon within (verse 18 — “it came out”). The demon’s presence was manifested by the boy having seizures. When Jesus cast out the demon, the boy was immediately healed.

You too may encounter some instances of afflictions suffered by unsaved people that are caused by demonic power. As in the case of Jesus curing the epileptic boy, healing may come as you drive the demon(s) away in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 13:10-13 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

This is a similar instance to the healing of the epileptic boy. The woman had been literally “crippled by a spirit” for 18 years. Jesus acknowledged (verse 16) that Satan had bound her and that she needed to be “set free.” He ministered that deliverance to her, and she was immediately healed from her crippling condition.

10. Sometimes healing comes from what would seem to us to be rather unusual, even remarkable, methods.

John 9:6-7 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the [blind] man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

Acts 5:15-16, KJV Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Jesus spit, made mud, and put it on a blind man’s eyes. And when the man washed his eyes, he could see! Sick people were laid in the streets, and when Peter’s shadow passed over them, they were healed.

These and other extraordinary healings were not written to give us a “pattern” of how to minister to the sick. In fact, neither of these instances was repeated in the New Testament. These are simply manifestations of the multifaceted power of God to heal. As we have seen in items 1-10 above, God heals in a variety of ways. The common denominator in all is this: God does heal!

Acts 3:6-7 Then [the apostle] Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

3. A larger group of seventy-two disciples was sent by Jesus to heal the sick.

Luke 10:1, 8-9 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.... [8] “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

4. In the Great Commission, Jesus encouraged all believers to heal the sick.

Mark 16:15-18, KJV And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

The Great Commission is for all believers to share the Good News of Jesus “in all the world.” And God will confirm the Gospel with supernatural signs, including healings. And the Gospel that He will confirm is not spoken just by apostles and other ordained ministers, but also by “them that believe” (17). Every believer can share the Good News and can minister divine healing to the sick. Jesus’ encouragement to every believer is (18): “Lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

5. There are some Christians (not all) who are especially empowered by the Holy Spirit with “gifts of healing.”

1 Corinthians 12:7-11, KJV But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

One of these nine is “gifts of healing.” It is given to some, not all — notice: “to one is given ... to another ... to another ... to another the gifts of healing ...”

1 Corinthians 12:28-30a And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing?

This is a similar list of spiritual gifts and ministries, indicating that to some God distributes the specific “gifts of healing.”

Let me add a side thought before our summary. It is this: Faith does not preclude our using wisdom and taking normal antiseptic, antibacterial precautions. For example:

2 Kings 20:7 Then Isaiah [the prophet] said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.

Luke 10:34 “He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.” [The wine, containing alcohol, would have an antibacterial effect.]

1 Timothy 5:23 “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” [Apparently, in context, for the alcohol’s antiseptic properties when poured into contaminated water. It seems that germ-laden water was giving Timothy recurring stomach problems.]

SUMMARY: God’s heart is for healing. It is a “benefit,” as is the forgiveness of sins, that Jesus secured with His death, burial, and resurrection (Psalm 103:2-3). It is a historical "ancient landmark" of both the Old and New Testaments.

Jesus healed again and again while He walked the earth. And He remains “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus heals today!

Biblical healing methods vary, and they include healing prayer, the laying on of hands, the spoken word, and anointing with oil by praying elders, among others.

Jesus has entrusted the healing ministry to His Church. The first apostles healed the sick. So did a large group of disciples. In the Great Commission, Jesus encouraged all believers to lay hands on the sick for healing. And there will be some in the churches whom the Holy Spirit will endow with specific “gifts of healing.”

Exodus 15:26 I am the Lord, who heals you.

Psalms 103:1-3 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.